Visible light reflection spectra from cuticle layered materials

Campos-Fernández, Cristian S.; Azofeifa, D. E.; Hernández-Jiménez, Marcela; Ruiz-Ruiz, Adams; Vargas, William E.

doi:10.1364/ome.1.000085

Cited by 36 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…We consider its solution by an example of the particle refractive index retrieval. This problem arises, for example, when one creates colloidal crystals, synthetic opals [4,6,[44][45][46] and studies some biological objects [7][8][9].…”

Section: Inverse Problem Solution Retrieval Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Three-dimensional ordered particulate structures: Method to retrieve characteristics from photonic band gap data

Miskevich

Loiko

2015

Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer

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Section: Inverse Problem Solution Retrieval Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ordered photonic structures, such as photonic crystals (PC), are the subject of intensive investigations in the last decades [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]. The interest is caused by the unique feature of such structures to suppress light propagation in some spectral ranges known as photonic band gaps (PBGs) [1][2][3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Three-dimensional ordered particulate structures: Method to retrieve characteristics from photonic band gap data

Miskevich

Loiko

2015

Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer

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“…Michelson noticed already in the early 1900s that light reflected from the scarab beetle Chrysina resplendens (Boucard, 1875) has a high degree of circular polarization [1]. Since then, a series of investigations has been performed in order to explain the structural origin of the color [2][3][4][5][6][7][8] and polarization properties [4,[9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] of these structures. Whether or not these beetles are able to detect polarized light has also been debated [24,25].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Polarizing properties and structure of the cuticle of scarab beetles from theChrysinagenus

2016

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The optical properties of several scarab beetles have been previously studied but few attempts have been made to compare beetles in the same genus. To determine whether there is any relation between specimens of the same genus, we have studied and classified seven species from the Chrysina genus. The polarization properties were analyzed with Mueller-matrix spectroscopic ellipsometry and the structural characteristics with optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Most of the Chrysina beetles are green colored or have a metallic look (gold or silver). The results show that the green-colored beetles polarize reflected light mainly at off-specular angles. The gold-colored beetles polarize light left-handed near circular at specular reflection. The structure of the exoskeleton is a stack of layers that form a cusplike structure in the green beetles whereas the layers are parallel to the surface in the case of the gold-colored beetles. The beetle C. gloriosa is green with gold-colored stripes along the elytras and exhibits both types of effects. The results indicate that Chrysina beetles can be classified according to these two major polarization properties.

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“…For instance, periodic multilayers of two transparent materials, A and B, with thicknesses d A and d B and two different refractive indices, n A and n B , respectively will give a first order reflectance peak with a center wavelength of approximately [19] …”

Section: Isotropic Multilayer Structuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There are several examples from nature where multilayer stacks of organic materials are highly reflecting [19].…”

Section: Isotropic Multilayer Structuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optical and Structural Characterization of Natural Nanostructures

Rio¹,

Fernández²

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The spectacular biodiversity of our planet is the result of millions of years of evolution. Over this time animals and plants have evolved and adapted to different environments, developing specific behavioral and physical adaptations to increase their chances of survival. During the last centuries human's curiosity has pushed us to study and understand the phenomena and mechanisms of the nature that surrounds us. This understanding has even led to the fields of biomimetics where we seek solutions to human challenges by emulating nature. Scarab beetles (from the insect family Scarabaeidae) have fascinated humans for centuries due to the brilliant metallic shine of their chitin-rich exoskeletons and more recently for their ability to polarize reflected light. This doctoral thesis focuses on the optical characterization of the polarized reflected light from beetles in the Chrysina genus, although beetles from other genera also have been investigated. All the Chrysina beetles studied here share one characteristic, they all reflect left-handed near-circular polarized light. In some cases we also detect right-handed polarized light. We have observed two different main behaviors among the studied Chrysina beetles. Those which are green-colored scatter the reflected polarized light, whereas those with metallic appearance are broadband specular reflectors. We present a detailed analysis of the optical properties with Mueller-matrix spectroscopic ellipsometry combined with optical- and electron-microscopy studies of the exoskeletons. This allow us to create a model that reproduces the optical properties of these structures. The model consists of a chiral (helicoidal) multilayer structure with a gradual change of the pitch and a constant rotation of the optic axis of the layers. Beetles are not alone to have polarizing structures in nature and it is known that many birds and insects have the ability to detect linearly polarized light. This raises the question of whether the polarization properties of the beetles are the direct or indirect results of evolution or just pure coincidence. In order to get a better understanding of the possible reasons of this particular ability, we present a simulation study of different possible scenarios in nature where incoming light could be polarized or unpolarized, and where we consider detectors (eyes) sensitive to different states of polarized light. If the beetles are able to use this characteristic for camouflage, to confuse predators or for intraspecific communication is, however, still unknown and requires further investigation. My research results provide deeper understanding of the properties of light reflected on the beetle's exoskeleton and the nanostructures responsible for the polarization of the reflected light. The developed model could be used as bioinspiration for the fabrication of novel nano-optical devices. My results can also complement biological behavioral experiments aiming to understand the purposes of this specific optical characteristics in nature.

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Visible light reflection spectra from cuticle layered materials

Cited by 36 publications

References 31 publications

Three-dimensional ordered particulate structures: Method to retrieve characteristics from photonic band gap data

Three-dimensional ordered particulate structures: Method to retrieve characteristics from photonic band gap data

Polarizing properties and structure of the cuticle of scarab beetles from theChrysinagenus

Optical and Structural Characterization of Natural Nanostructures

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